Impatiens plant named Blues

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Blues, characterized by its medium-sized, round light pink flowers; compact and freely branched growth habit; moderate growth rate; and dark green and glossy non-variegated foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens, botanically konwn as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Blues.

The new cultivar was developed by me in a controlled breeding program atDanziger--"Dan" Flower Farm, Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, by crossing thefemale, or seed, parent identified as Impatiens hawkeri selection DANH-279 with the male, or pollen, parent identified as Impatiens hawkeriselection DAN 206-P. Both parents are nonpatented selections developedby me in a controlled breeding program and used only as breedingparents.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken byme at Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, has shown that the combination offeatures of this new Impatiens are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following characteristics are repeatedly observed and are determinedto be the distinctive and unique characteristics of Blues. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish Blues from both its parentvarieties and other cultivated New Guinea Impatiens used in thefloriculture industry:

1. Medium-sized, round light pink flowers.

2. Compact growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit.

4. Moderate growth rate.

5. Dark green and glossy non-variegated foliage.

The new cultivar is most similar to the patented Impatiens hawkericultivar Delias (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,838) in flower color. HoweverBlues differs from Delias in its lighter pink flower color, smallerflower size, and more compact growth habit compared to Delias.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceand flower color of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as itis reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.The photograph constitutes a top perpective view of a typical pottedplant of Blues.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Mishmar Hashiva,Israel, under normal commercial practice in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse with minimum night temperatures of 12° to 14° C. during thewinter and maximum temperatures of 35° C. during the summer. Averagelight levels in the greenhouse in 40,000 lux. Blues has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and daylength.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Blues.

Parentage:

Female (seed) parent.--Impatiens hawkeri DAN H-279.

Male (pollen) parent.--Impatiens hawkeri DAN 206-P.

Propagation:

A. Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

B. Time to initiate roots.--1. Summer: 8 days at 25° C. 2. Winter: 9days at 20° C.

C. Rooting habit.--Fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

A. General appearance.--Freely branching and compact growth habit;suitable for 10 cm pots.

B. Foliage description.--1. Shape: Lanceolate with acuminate tip andattenuate base. 2. Size: a. Length: 8 cm. b. Width: 3 cm. 3. Texture:Smooth and very glossy. 4. Margin: Finely serrated. 5. Color: a. Youngfoliage, upper surface: 137A. b. Young foliage, under surface: 138C. c.Mature foliage, upper surface: 137A. d. Mature foliage, under surface:138B. e. Veins, upper surface: 137A. f. Veins, under surface: 138B.

C. Stem description.--1. Internode length: 4.5 cm. 2. Stem color: 138A.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habit.--Freely flowering.

B. Natural flowering season.--Year-round. Early flowering: under summerconditions, plants flower 8 to 9 weeks after planting; and under winterconditions, plants flower 12 to 13 weeks after planting.

C. Flower borne.--Flower buds develop in leaf axils. Open flowers aredisplayed above the foliage.

D. Quantity of inflorescence.--Very floriferous; usually 3 to 4 flowersper axil and about 12 flowers per lateral branch at various stages ofdevelopment; usually 2 to 3 fully open flowers per lateral branch.

E. Flower opening rate.--From bud initiation, flowers are fully openafter 5 to 10 days depending on temperature, humidity and light level.

F. Flower size.--1. Length: 4.5 cm. 2. Width: 4.5 cm.

G. Petals.--1. Shape: Cordate. 2. Quantity: 5. 3. Color: a. Whenopening: 55B. b. Upper surface: 55C. c. Under surface; 55D. d. Fadingto: 55D.

H. Flower bud.--1. Shape: Round with spur. 2. Color: 39B.

I. Spur.--1. Shape: Needle-shaped, curved at end. 2. Color: 53A. 3.Length: a. On flower bud: 3.3 cm. b. On open flower: 4.9 cm.

J. Reproductive organs.--1. Androecium: a. Stamen number: 5. b. Anthershape: Oblong. c. Anther color: 26C. d. Pollen color: 11D. 2. Gynoecium:a. Stigma color: 137A. b. Style color: 137A. c. Ovary: Superior,5-celled. d. Ovary color: 137A. e. Ovary size: 1 to 2 mm.

Disease resistance: No fungal or bacterial problems observed.

Seed development: Seed production is very rarely observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Blues,as illustrated and described.